by external causes, wherever it exists, but cannot be communicated, where it is not.— A closer examination of the foregoing conjectures, which I wish not to be held for any thing more than conjectures, may, perhaps, lead to the profoundest secrets of phy-siognomy. Sed manum de tabula.

XI.

ON CERTAIN INDIVIDUAL PARTS OF THE

HUMAN BODY.

A.

THE FOREHEAD.

THE following are my own remarks on foreheads.

The form, height, arching, proportion, obliquity, and position of the scull, or bone of the forehead, show the propensity, degree of power, thought, and sensibility of man. The covering, or skin, of the forehead, its position, colour, wrinkles, and tension, denote the passions and present state of the mind. The bones give the internal quantity, and their covering the application of power.

The forehead bones remain unaltered, though the skin be wrinkled, but this wrinkling varies according to the various forms of the bones. A certain degree of flatness produces certain wrinkles; a certain arching is attended by certain other wrinkles, so that the wrinkles, separately considered, will give

the arching of the forehead, and this, vice versa, will give the wrinkles. Certain foreheads can only have perpendicular, others horizontal, others curved, and others mixed and confused wrinkles. Cup-formed (smooth) cornerless, foreheads, when they are in motion, commonly have the simplest, and least perplexed wrinkles.

But leaving wrinkles, I hold the peculiar delineation of the outline and position of the forehead, which has been left unattempted by ancient and modern physiognomists, to be the most important of all the things presented to physiognomonical observation. We may divide foreheads, considered in profile, into three principal classes, the retreating, the perpendicular, and the projecting. Each of these classes has a multitude of variations, which may easily again be classed, and the chief of which are (1) rectilinear; (2) half round, half rectilinear, flowing into each other; (3) half round, half rectilinear, interrupted; (4) curve lined, simple; (5) the curve lined double and triple. The latter is exemplified in the following 6 instances.

I shall add some more particular remarks.

(1) The longer the forehead, the more comprehension (cæteris paribus) and less activity.

(2) The more compressed, short and firm the forehead, the more compression, firmness, and less volatility, in the man.

(3) The more curved and cornerless the outline, the more tender and flexible the character; the more rectilinear, the more pertinacity and severity.

(4) Perfect perpendicularity, from the hair to the eyebrows, want of understanding.

(5) Perfect perpendicularity, gently arched at the top, like 6, denotes excellent propensities of cold, tranquil, profound, thinking.

(6) Projecting, like 9, 10, 11, 12, imbecility, immaturity, weakness, stupidity.

(7) Retreating, like 1, 2, 3, 4, in general, denotes superiority of imagination, wit, and

acuteness.

(8) The round and prominent forehead above, strait lined below, and, on the whole, perpendicular, partly like 7, shews much understanding, life, sensibility, vehemence, and -icy coldness.

(9) The oblique, rectilinear, forehead is, also, very vehement, and vigorous.

(10) Arched foreheads, like 5*, appear, properly, to be feminine. 5 denotes perspicuity (I reluctantly apply the word thoughtful to women. Those who have the most understanding think little, or not at all. They see and arrange images, but trouble themselves little concerning abstract signs). 8 is insupportably stupid. 12 the ne plus ultra of stupidity, and imbecility.

(11) A happy union of straight and curved lines, with a happy position of the forehead, express the most perfect character of wisdom. By happy union I mean when the lines insensibly flow into each other, and by happy position when the forehead is neither too perpendicular nor too retreating, in nearly the position of 2.

(12) I might almost establish it as an axiom that right lines, considered as such,

* Here is some mistake; perhaps it should be 4; or it may be that the six examples, page 164, which follow the number 5,